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Everyone has heard of the Great fire of London in 1666 when vast swathes of the city were engulfed in an inferno. Such fires were common in medieval cities which were largely constructed of timber and houses were densely packed together. Here are five of the worst fires in medieval Dublin.

1192

This is the earliest recorded fire in the city, the annalist in St Mary’s Abbey simply recorded the event as

“The City of Dublin was burnt”

1283

This fire marked the beginning of a disastrous period in Dublin, Christchurch was very badly damaged in the fire. St Mary’s Annalist again recorded

“Fire in Dublin, the city of Dublin was in part burnt, and the belfray of St Trinity church in Dublin, the third day before the nones of January”

1301

The fire in 1301 occurred on the night of June 9th. Dry weather in summer would have seen…